Amy Plum's NEVERWAKE is 3 Weeks Away!

NEVERWAKE:

Scream meets Nightmare on Elm Street in this thrilling and terrifying sequel to Dreamfall—which Madeleine Roux, New York Times bestselling author of the Asylum series, called “remarkable, riveting, disorienting, and dark.”

For most people, no matter how bad a nightmare is, it always comes to an end. But for Cata and the others, there may be no escape.

After an experimental treatment meant to cure their insomnia went horribly wrong, the teens were plunged into a shared dreamworld where their most terrifying fears became reality.

The six of them have no way of waking up. And they’re now beginning to realize that if they die there, they might actually die in the real world. One of the dreamers is already gone, and anyone could be next. So they must work together to survive.

But as they learn the truth about one another, they soon discover they are trapped with someone far more dangerous than their nightmares….

Perfect for fans of Danielle Vega, Kendare Blake, and Michelle Hodkin, Neverwake is the final book in this spine-tingling duology full of action and suspense that will give you nightmares you never could have imagined.

 

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$1.99 Dreamfall Offer

If you haven’t yet read DREAMFALL, now’s your chance to get a digital copy for only $1.99 either through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or straight from HarperTeen. For those of you who didn’t think you could wait a year to find out what happened after the cliffhanger ending…your patience has paid off.

Have You Heard of Lauren DeStefano's The Glass Spare?

The first in a new fantasy duology, The Glass Spare (HarperCollins Publishers / 9780062491282 / 10/24/2017/ $17.99 /Ages 13 and up) is a gorgeously told tale of love, loss, and deadly power from Lauren DeStefano, the bestselling author of the Chemical Garden series. Perfect for fans of Shannon Hale and Renee Ahdieh.

Wilhelmina Heidle, the fourth child and only daughter of the king of the world’s wealthiest nation, has grown up in the shadows. Kept hidden from the world in order to serve as a spy for her father—whose obsession with building his empire is causing a war—Wil wants nothing more than to explore the world beyond her kingdom, if only her father would give her the chance. Until one night Wil is attacked, and she discovers a dangerous secret. Her touch turns people into gemstone. At first Wil is horrified—but as she tests its limits, she’s drawn more and more to the strange and volatile ability. When it leads to tragedy, though, Wil is forced to face the destructive power within her and finally leave her home to seek the truth and a cure. But finding the key to her redemption puts her in the path of a cursed prince who has his own ideas for what to do with Wil’s power. With a world on the brink of war and a power of ultimate destruction, can Wil find a way to help the kingdom that’s turned its back on her, or will she betray her past and her family forever?

Lauren DeStefano earned her BA in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing from Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut in 2007. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of Wither, Fever, Sever, The Internment Chronicles, and A Curious Tale of the In-Between. You can find her online at http://www.laurendestefano.com/.

“This is the setup for a longer series, and it leaves off with tantalizing hints of what’s to come. Readers will be eager to reenter this world of scheming kings and banished heirs, where nothing is quite as it seems.”

— The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

Book Review: Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Anderson

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Midnight at the Electric
Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson

Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction/Historical
Released: June 17 2017
Review Source: HarperTeen

Divided by time. Ignited by a spark.

Kansas, 2065. Adri has secured a slot as a Colonist—one of the lucky few handpicked to live on Mars. But weeks before launch, she discovers the journal of a girl who lived in her house over a hundred years ago, and is immediately drawn into the mystery surrounding her fate. While Adri knows she must focus on the mission ahead, she becomes captivated by a life that’s been lost in time…and how it might be inextricably tied to her own.

Oklahoma, 1934. Amidst the fear and uncertainty of the Dust Bowl, Catherine fantasizes about her family’s farmhand, and longs for the immortality promised by a professor at a traveling show called the Electric. But as her family’s situation becomes more dire—and the suffocating dust threatens her sister’s life—Catherine must find the courage to sacrifice everything she loves in order to save the one person she loves most.

England, 1919. In the recovery following the First World War, Lenore struggles with her grief for her brother, a fallen British soldier, and plans to sail to America in pursuit of a childhood friend. But even if she makes it that far, will her friend be the person she remembers, and the one who can bring her back to herself?

While their stories spans thousands of miles and multiple generations, Lenore, Catherine, and Adri’s fates are entwined.

Midnight at the Electric follows three different girls who are all connected in some way. They each come from a different time period; 1919, 1934 and 2065. Each dealing with their own types of dramatic situations they each learn from one another whether they know it or not.

This book had so much potential for me to love it. It hooked me, that's for sure, but it never gave me that feeling of having completely loved the story. I don't feel like I got my answers - which leaves me frustrated.

It was a little bit difficult to keep up with. The three girls are in different periods and for a chunk of the book you're with each one. So we start in 2065. When you feel like you haven't really connected with the girl there you get thrown into 1934. It was - for some odd reason - very easy for me to connect to this girl. So I had no issues with her story. But then I get thrown into 1919. When things get a bit confusing then we get thrown back to 2065 and don't get answers for a while. I felt like this was too jumbled and wish that it had a more flowing story.

I've heard so much good things about this book that I really don't want to change anyone's mind about reading it. The intrigue that Anderson brings to the story will have you hooked. And maybe there are people out there who are able to follow a story that throws you around a bit. But for me, this was one that was difficult for me to follow.

Waiting on Wednesday: Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Hunted

Author: Meagan Spooner

Release Date: March 14th 2017

Publisher: HarperTeen

Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. Though she grew up with the city’s highest aristocrats, far from her father’s old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them.

So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance.

Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?

Blog Tour: Rose & Thorn by Sarah Prineas + Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on the Rose & Thorn tour for Sarah Prineas. This tour is hosted by Rockstar Book Tour.

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Rose & Thorn
Ash & Bramble #2
Author: Sarah Prineas
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: October 18th 2016
Review Source: HarperTeen

This beauty isn’t sleeping! Discover the true story of Sleeping Beauty in Sarah Prineas’s bold YA fairy-tale retelling filled with thrilling adventure and romance, perfect for fans of The Lunar Chronicles and The Girl of Fire & Thorns trilogy.

After the spell protecting her is destroyed, Rose seeks safety in the world outside the valley she had called home. She’s been kept hidden all her life to delay the three curses she was born with—curses that will put her into her own fairy tale and a century-long slumber. Accompanied by the handsome and mysterious Watcher, Griff, and his witty and warmhearted partner, Quirk, Rose tries to escape from the ties that bind her to her story. But will the path they take lead them to freedom, or will it bring them straight into the fairy tale they are trying to avoid?

Set in the world of Sarah Prineas’s Ash & Bramble fifty years later, Rose & Thorn is a powerful retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale where the characters fight to find their own Happy Ever After.

Why was this story so short? Is it because I was enjoying it so much, Sarah just wanted to tease me? Because if it is, then that's not fair, I need more. Rose & Thorn is by far my favorite of this series. From the very beginning this story was compelling.

Rose has been living her entire life apart from the world. She's been protected by the Penwitch's power and  been guarded by Shoe, yes that Shoe. She's very naive and has a lot to learn. But when the protection is broken, Rose must learn to survive the cruel world and get all three curses removed. Like Sleeping Beauty, Rose has been blessed by beauty but this makes the quest very challenging. And unlike Sleeping Beauty, Rose takes matter into her own hands.

What I love most about this story is how Rose composed herself throughout this challenging quest. The only person she knew died and instead of breaking down, this naive girl decided to take a journey to figure out who she is. Though it took a while, Rose learns she is headstrong, willing to learn and doesn't need Prince Charming to survive. She doesn't wait around and she takes action to her own destiny. This is very admiring -- Girl POWER.

Rose & Thorn is interesting, twisted and compelling. It deals with gender, power, and choosing your destiny. It's well paced, fun and simply admiring. The main character is charming, fierce and passionate. Her character development is very memorable and admiring. It's definitely an inspiring story which I recommend to every girl out there. Even to those wishing for someone to come to their rescue. You can chose your own fate, no matter your gender. Now, can Sarah write another book? I can't get enough of this series!

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Hi there! I'm Sarah Prineas, author of the Magic Thief series published in the US by HarperCollins and in 17 other languages around the world, and the Winterling trilogy. I live in rural Iowa with my mad scientist husband, two kids, and two cats. My next book is called Ash & Bramble, and it's a YA.

3 winners will receive a finished copy of ROSE & THORN. US Only.

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FOLLOW THE TOUR

10/17/2016- Once Upon a Twilight- Review

10/18/2016- YaReads- Guest Post

10/19/2016- Eli to the nth- Review

10/20/2016- The Cover Contessa- Interview

10/21/2016- Mundie Moms- Review

Blog Tour: The Black Key by Amy Ewing | Excerpt | Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on the The Black Key tour for Amy Ewing. This tour is hosted by Rockstar Book Tour.

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The Black Key
The Lone City #3
Author: Amy Ewing
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia
Released: October 4th 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen

For too long, Violet and the people of the outer circles of the Lone City have lived in service to the royalty of the Jewel. But now the secret society known as the Black Key is preparing to seize power.

And while Violet knows she is at the center of this rebellion, she has a more personal stake in it—her sister, Hazel, has been taken by the Duchess of the Lake. Now, after fighting so hard to escape the Jewel, Violet must do everything in her power to return to save not only Hazel, but the future of the Lone City.

Excerpt

It’s warm inside the greenhouse, the air thick with the scent of growing things, earth and roots and flowers. The rain patters gently as Raven and I wait.

At precisely five seconds past midnight, I can just make out hooded shapes hurrying across the courtyard. Then the door to the greenhouse opens and the group of girls we’ve been waiting for floods in.

“Violet!” some of them whisper, rushing over to greet me and Raven.

Amber Lockring strides forward, throwing back the hood of her cloak, her eyes gleaming. “Right on time,” she says with a grin.

“Five seconds late, actually,” Raven points out.

Amber wasn’t one of our friends here, though she lived on our floor. Raven confessed that Amber called me a freak on my first day at Southgate and Raven bent her arm behind her back until Amber said she was sorry. They had never liked each other after that. When we got the list of girls going to the Auction, Raven immediately chose Amber as the first one to reveal this secret to. When I asked why, she narrowed her eyes and said, “She hates the royalty just the way I did. And she was the only other girl in our dorm who wore pants.”

I had to smile at that. If they hadn’t hated each other so much, they might’ve been friends.

“You brought them?” I say.

Amber gestures proudly to the figures still huddled by the door, three girls with varying expressions of fear and suspicion on their faces. “Tawny, Ginger, and Henna. They’re the last ones. This is all of us going to the Auction.”

I do a quick head count. Only nine out of the seventy-seven girls at this year’s Auction are from Southgate. And they stand before me now.

“Did anyone see you?” Raven says.

Amber snorts. “No. Obviously. I have done this before, you know.”

“Great job,” I say.

“Ready?” Raven mutters.

I step forward.

It’s time to show these girls who they really are.

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Amy Ewing earned her MFA in Writing for Children at The New School and received her BFA at New York University. The Jewel started off as a thesis project and became her debut novel. She lives in New York City. You can visit Amy online at www.amyewingbooks.com or on Twitter @AmyEwingBooks.

1 winner will receive a signed finished copy of THE JEWEL & THE WHITE ROSE. US Only.

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FOLLOW THE TOUR

9/28/2016- Take Me Away To A Great Read- Guest Post

9/29/2016- Andi's ABCs- 10's Post

9/30/2016- A Dream Within A Dream- Interview

Waiting on Wednesday: A Million Worlds with You & Of Fire and Stars

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

A Million Worlds with You

Firebird #3

Author: Claudia Gray

Release Date: November 1st 2016

Publisher: HarperTeen

A million universes. A million dangers. One destiny.

The fate of the multiverse rests in Marguerite Caine’s hands. Marguerite has been at the center of a cross-dimensional feud since she first traveled to another universe using her parents’ invention, the Firebird. Only now has she learned the true plans of the evil Triad Corporation—and that those plans could spell doom for dozens or hundreds of universes, each facing total annihilation.

Paul Markov has always been at Marguerite’s side, but Triad’s last attack has left him a changed man—angry and shadowed by tragedy. He struggles to overcome the damage done to him, but despite Marguerite’s efforts to help, Paul may never be the same again.

So it’s up to Marguerite alone to stop the destruction of the multiverse. Billions of lives are at stake. The risks have never been higher. And Triad has unleashed its ultimate weapon: another dimension’s Marguerite—wicked, psychologically twisted, and always one step ahead.

In the epic conclusion to Claudia Gray’s Firebird trilogy, fate and family will be questioned, loves will be won and lost, and the multiverse will be forever changed. It’s a battle of the Marguerites . . . and only one can win.

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Of Fire and Stars

Author: Audrey Coulthurst

Release Date: November 22nd 2016

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.

Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine (called Mare), sister of her betrothed.

When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two work together, each discovers there’s more to the other than she thought. Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. Soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.

But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.

Book review: Abhorsen By Garth Nix

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Abhorsen
Old Kingdom Series #3

Author: Garth Nix
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Action Fantasy
Released: January 7th, 2003
Review Source: Harper Teen

The Ninth was strong and fought with might
But lone Orannis was put out of the light
Broken in two and buried under hill
Forever to lie there, wishing us ill.

So says the song. But Orannis, the Destroyer, is no longer buried under hill. It has been freed from its subterranean prison and now seeks to escape the silver hemispheres, the final barrier to the unleashing of its terrible powers.

The Abhorsen Sabriel and King Touchstone are missing, leaving only Lirael—newly come into her inheritance as the Abhorsen-in-Waiting—to stop the Destroyer. If Orannis's unspeakable powers are unleashed, it will mean the end of all Life. With only a vision from the Clayr to guide her, and the help of her companions, Sam, the Disreputable Dog, and Mogget, Lirael must search in both Life and Death for some means to defeat the evil destructor—before it is too late. . . .

Where book one of the series focuses on Sabriel as the Abhorsen, book two diverts to Lirael but keeps her as the semi-central character in the final book of the trilogy. It does bring back all the characters to band together but the weight of the world is seemingly on Lirael's shoulders.

Now this review does have quite a few spoilers for anyone who's not yet read these books, the synopsis gives key points. Turns out that Lirael's destiny was not that of the Clayr per-say but that of the Abhorsen, to follow as a daughter of both, as a Rememberancer!

Sabriel and Touchstone have been rebuilding the kingdom, driving back the hoards of dead and reclaiming the land for the living, clearing villages and putting right all the charter stones. Sam has been doing his own research into magic, his understanding is limited having grown up south of the Wall, but ever the scholar, he will find answers!

His search however, is not only driving him to madness but it's unleashing a hell on earth. Everyone is racing against time to find this evil that has been resting for so many millennia, since the creation of the seven and the birth of the charter. Will they make it in time?